System and method for sending data to end user data delivery vehicles

ABSTRACT

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, dividing a reward token in a reward token data base into a plurality of reward token pieces based on a selection of plurality of end user data delivery vehicles, sensing end user activity on a communication network on one of the plurality of end user data delivery vehicles at one of a plurality of data delivery vehicle servers, sending from a first one of the plurality of data delivery vehicle servers, a first one of the plurality of reward token pieces to the end user on a first one of the plurality of end user data delivery vehicles, and sending from a second one of the plurality of data delivery vehicle servers, a second one of the plurality of reward token pieces to the end user on a second one of the plurality of end user data delivery vehicles.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/111,689 filed on Aug. 24, 2018, which is a divisional of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/425,915 filed on Apr. 17, 2009 (now U.S. Pat.No. 10,074,095). All sections of the aforementioned application(s) andpatent(s) are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF DISCLOSURE

The disclosure relates to the field of video data distribution systemsand more specifically to systems and methods for sending data to endusers.

BACKGROUND

Targeted advertisements have historically been mailed to large targetedgeographic areas such as a particular city, so that regional advertisersreach only persons who are deemed by the advertiser as most likely to beresponsive to their advertisements. Advertisements are a component indigital video services, including live or pre-recorded broadcasttelevision TV, special or pay-per-view programming, video on demand(VOD), and other content data choices available to subscribers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a depiction of an Internet protocol television (IPTV) systemin a particular illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a depiction of system for managing rewards sent to end usersin a particular illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a depiction of a data structure embedded in a tangiblecomputer readable medium which stores data for use a method, system andcomputer program products implementing a particular illustrativeembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a depiction of flow chart of functions performed by a method,system and computer program products implementing a particularillustrative embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of acomputer system within which a set of instructions, when executed, maycause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies of theillustrative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An illustrative embodiment monitors end user activity data of an enduser on one or more of several end user data delivery vehiclesassociated with the end user. In one illustrative embodiment, end userdata delivery vehicles are delivery mechanisms such as end user devicesand end user applications through which an end user receives data anddata services such as telephone, Internet and video. A reward servermonitors the end user activity of end users and end user data deliveryvehicles. The number of end user data delivery vehicles associated witha particular end user ranges from 1 to N. In a particular embodiment, aprovider, such as an advertiser selects end user data delivery vehiclesat an advertising server based on desired advertising impressiondemographics or a desired data delivery vehicle usage associated with aparticular product affinity.

In another particular embodiment, a provider such as a communicationscompany can select end user data delivery vehicles and send reward tokenpieces to the selected end user data delivery vehicles to incentivizeuse of end user data delivery vehicles receiving the reward tokenpieces. Thus, if a particular end user has a favorite or most utilizedend user device type, a provider can direct a reward server to send areward token piece to the end user device indicated by the favorite enduser device type. In another embodiment, the reward server sends areward notice to the favorite end user data delivery vehicle that areward token piece is available on a second end user device having anend user device type, which may be different than the favorite end userdevice type. Thus, the end user is provided an incentive to utilize thesecond end user device type to collect the reward token piece. Inanother embodiment, end users collect all N reward token pieces toreceive credits for value which can be redeemed for points used to payfor services or merchandise.

Similarly, if a particular end user has a favorite or most utilized enduser application or application type, a provider can direct the rewardserver to send to the end user application indicated by the favoriteapplication or application type, a reward token piece and/or a noticethat a reward token piece is available on a second end user applicationor application type, which may be different than the favorite end userapplication or application type. Thus, the end user is provided anincentive reward token piece to utilize the second end user applicationor application type to collect the reward token piece.

In a particular embodiment, a reward server communicates with datadelivery vehicle servers sends reward tokens by sending reward tokenpieces to selected end user data delivery vehicles via an IPTV system.End user data delivery vehicles are selected in various ways, includingbut not limited to selecting end user data delivery vehicles associatedwith a particular end user based on a correlation between an end user'sprofile; or an affinity for a product and an advertiser's desired targetdemographic or a tendency for a product affinity correlated withaffinity for particular end user applications and particular end userdevice types.

An advertiser bids on a group of end user data delivery vehiclesselected based on several factors, including but not limited to, enduser demographics, application usage trends correlated with productaffinity trends, end user device type usage correlated with productaffinity trends, and end user device types based on the end userdemographics, end user device usage and end user device applicationactivity. Advertisers may desire to reach certain type devices orcertain applications, to ride a certain wave or trend in which aparticular demographic which has an affinity for a certain product.Product affinity for a particular product is determined by monitoringend user activity data indicating demographics, device types andapplications/application type that looks at, discusses, searches for oruses the particular product.

For example, if an advertiser knows that most of the 12-14 year oldsboys are now using Twitter™, the advertiser can send reward token piecesto the end user application, Twitter™, in order to reach the 12-14 yearold boys. Advertisers can incentivize end users to utilized differentand additional end user client devices (cell phones, lap top computers,portable media players (for example, Apple iPod™) and differentapplications (text messaging, Twitter, etc.) on the different end userclient devices by sending reward token pieces to different devices anddifferent applications on the different devices. In another embodiment,advertisers or providers can incentivize different IPTV televisionprograms or channels by sending reward token pieces to an end userdevice on a particular IPTV channel or IPTV program and announcing thedelivery of the reward token piece on an end user's favorite channel orIPTV program.

In another particular embodiment, a method is disclosed including butnot limited to dividing a reward token in a reward token data base intoa quantity, N of reward token pieces based on a selection of N end userdata delivery vehicles on which an advertiser wants to send reward tokenpieces to an end user; sensing end user activity on a communicationnetwork on at least one of the N end user data delivery vehicles at oneof a plurality of data delivery vehicle servers; sending from a firstdata delivery vehicle server, a first one of the N reward token piecesto the end user on a first one of the N end user data delivery vehicles;and sending from a second data delivery vehicle server, a second one ofthe N reward token pieces to the end user on a second one of the N enduser data delivery vehicles.

In another particular embodiment of the method, the first data deliveryvehicle server further includes but is not limited to an end userapplication server and the first one of the plurality of end user datadelivery vehicles further includes but is not limited to an end userdevice application, the method further including but not limited todetecting the end user application at the end user device applicationserver, wherein the device application is selected from the groupconsisting of instant messaging, video, cellular telephone, textmessaging and games. In another particular embodiment of the method thefirst one of the N end user data delivery vehicles further includes butis not limited to a favorite end user device type, the method furtherincluding but not limited to detecting the favorite end user device typeat an end user device server. In another particular embodiment of themethod, an advertiser selects end users, end user device types and enduser applications associated with the selected end user to receive thereward token pieces.

In another particular embodiment of the method, the method furtherincludes but is not limited to rewarding the end user for accumulationof each of the N reward token pieces on an end user data deliveryvehicle, wherein the reward value is inversely proportional to an enduser's historical utilization of the end user data delivery vehicle. Inanother particular embodiment of the method, the method further includesbut is not limited to selecting the second end user data deliveryvehicle based on increasing an end user's historical utilization of thesecond end user data delivery vehicle; and sending data indicating onthe first data delivery vehicle that the second reward token piece isavailable on the second end user data delivery vehicle.

In another particular embodiment of the method, the method furtherincludes but is not limited to monitoring end user data delivery vehicleactivity for the end user; and ranking the end user's data deliveryvehicle activity by historical utilization of at least one of the groupconsisting of historical utilization of each of the plurality of enduser device types, historical utilization of each of the plurality ofend user applications and historical utilization of each end userapplication on each of the plurality of end user device types. Inanother particular embodiment of the method, the method further includesbut is not limited to weighting the historical utilization of each ofthe plurality of end user device types, the historical utilization ofeach of the plurality of end user applications and the historicalutilization of each end user application on each the plurality of enduser device types, based on an desired target profile.

In another particular embodiment a computer program product is disclosedincluding but not limited to a tangible computer readable mediumcontaining a computer program comprising computer readable instructionsthat when executed by a computer perform a function, the computerprogram comprising instructions to divide a reward token in a rewardtoken data base into a quantity, N of reward token pieces based on aselection of N end user data delivery vehicles on which an advertiserwants to send reward token pieces to an end user; instructions to senseend user activity on a communication network on at least one of the Nend user data delivery vehicles at one of a plurality of data deliveryvehicle servers; instructions to send from a first data delivery vehicleserver, a first one of the N reward token pieces to the end user on afirst one of the N end user data delivery vehicles; and instructions tosend from a second data delivery vehicle server, a second one of the Nreward token pieces to the end user on a second one of the N end userdata delivery vehicles.

In another particular embodiment of the medium, the first data deliveryvehicle server is an end user application server and the first one ofthe plurality of end user data delivery vehicles further includes but isnot limited to an end user device application, the computer programfurther comprising instructions to detect the end user application atthe end user device application server, wherein the device applicationis selected from the group consisting of instant messaging, video,cellular telephone, text messaging and games. In another particularembodiment of the medium, the first one of the N end user data deliveryvehicles further includes but is not limited to a favorite end userdevice type, the medium the computer program further includes but notlimited instructions to detect the favorite end user device type at anend user device server. In another particular embodiment of the medium,an advertiser selects end users, end user device types and end userapplications associated with the selected end user to receive the rewardtoken pieces.

In another particular embodiment of the medium, the computer programfurther includes but is not limited to instructions to reward the enduser for accumulation of each of the N reward token pieces on an enduser data delivery vehicle, wherein the reward value is inverselyproportional to an end user's historical utilization of the end userdata delivery vehicle. In another particular embodiment of the medium,the computer program further includes but is not limited to instructionsto select the second end user data delivery vehicle based on increasingan end user's historical utilization of the second end user datadelivery vehicle; and instructions to send data indicating on the firstdata delivery vehicle that the second reward token piece is available onthe second end user data delivery vehicle.

In another particular embodiment of the medium, the computer furtherincludes but is not limited to instructions to monitor data deliveryvehicle activity for the end user; and instructions to rank the enduser's data delivery vehicle activity by historical utilization of atleast one of the group consisting of historical utilization of each ofthe plurality of end user device types, historical utilization of eachof the plurality of end user applications and historical utilization ofeach end user application on each of the plurality of end user devicetypes. In another particular embodiment of the medium, the instructionsto rank further comprise instructions to weight the historicalutilization of each of the plurality of end user device types, thehistorical utilization of each of the plurality of end user applicationsand the historical utilization of each end user application on each theplurality of end user device types, based on an desired target profile.

In another particular embodiment, a system is disclosed including butnot limited to a processor in data communication with a tangiblecomputer readable medium, the tangible computer readable mediumcontaining a computer program comprising instructions that when executedby a computer perform a function; a first computer program componentthat divide a reward token in a reward token data base into a quantity,N of reward token pieces based on a selection of N end user datadelivery vehicles on which an advertiser wants to send reward tokenpieces to an end user; a plurality of data delivery vehicle servers thatsense end user activity on a communication network on at least one ofthe N end user data delivery vehicles at one of a plurality of datadelivery vehicle servers, wherein a first one of the plurality of datadelivery vehicle servers, sends a first one of the N reward token piecesto the end user on a first one of the N end user data delivery vehiclesand a second one of the plurality of data delivery vehicle servers,sends a second one of the N reward token pieces to the end user on asecond one of the N end user data delivery vehicles.

In another particular embodiment of the system, the first data deliveryvehicle server further includes but is not limited to an end userapplication server and the first one of the plurality of end user datadelivery vehicles further includes but is not limited to an end userdevice application, wherein the end user application server detects theend user application at the end user application server, wherein thedevice application is selected from the group consisting of instantmessaging, video, cellular telephone, text messaging and games. Inanother particular embodiment of the system, the first one of the N enduser data delivery vehicles further includes but is not limited to afavorite end user device type; the system further includes but is notlimited to an end user server configured to detect the favorite end userdevice type.

In another particular embodiment of the system, an advertiser selectsend users, end user device types and end user applications associatedwith the selected end user to receive the reward token pieces, whereinthe end user is rewarded for accumulation of each of the N reward tokenpieces on an end user data delivery vehicle, wherein the reward value isinversely proportional to an end user's historical utilization of theend user data delivery vehicle and the second end user data deliveryvehicle is selected based on increasing an end user's historicalutilization of the second end user data delivery vehicle, wherein datais sent on the first data delivery vehicle indicating that the secondreward token piece is available on the second end user data deliveryvehicle.

In another particular embodiment, a method is disclosed including butnot limited to receiving on a first end user data delivery vehicle froma first data delivery vehicle server, a first one of N reward tokenpieces; receiving on the first end user data delivery vehicle from thefirst data delivery vehicle server, data indicating that a second rewardtoken piece is available on a second end user data delivery vehicle,wherein the second end user data delivery vehicle is selected based onincreasing an end user's historical utilization of the second end userdata delivery vehicle; and receiving a second one of the N reward tokenpieces on the second end user data delivery vehicle.

In another particular embodiment, a tangible computer readable mediumcontaining a computer program including but not limited to computerreadable instructions that when executed by a computer perform afunction, the computer program including but not limited to instructionsto receive on a first end user data delivery vehicle from a first datadelivery vehicle server, a first one of N reward token pieces;

instructions to receive on the first end user data delivery vehicle fromthe first data delivery vehicle server, data indicating that a secondreward token piece is available on a second end user data deliveryvehicle, wherein the second end user data delivery vehicle is selectedbased on increasing an end user's historical utilization of the secondend user data delivery vehicle; and instructions to receive a second oneof the N reward token pieces on the second end user data deliveryvehicle.

In another particular embodiment, a system is disclosed, including butnot limited to a processor in data communication with a tangiblecomputer readable medium, the tangible computer readable mediumcontaining a computer program comprising instructions that when executedby a computer perform a function; a first computer program componentthat receives on a first end user data delivery vehicle from a firstdata delivery vehicle server, a first one of N reward token pieces; asecond computer program component that receives on the first end userdata delivery vehicle from the first data delivery vehicle server, dataindicating that a second reward token piece is available on a second enduser data delivery vehicle, wherein the second end user data deliveryvehicle is selected based on increasing an end user's historicalutilization of the second end user data delivery vehicle; and a thirdcomputer program component that receives a second one of the N rewardtoken pieces on the second end user data delivery vehicle.

Turning now to FIG. 1 , in Internet protocol television (IPTV) system isshown delivering, Internet data and telephonic data and Internetprotocol (IP) video television data to a client device. The IPTV systemprovides electronic data services to end users including but not limitedto Internet, text messaging, telephonic (cellular and landline), video,audio and other electronic data services. The IPTV system 100 deliversvideo data including but not limited to content and different rewardtoken pieces data to end users via end user devices and applications, tosubscriber house holds 113 and associated end user devices (alsoreferred to herein as client devices) which may be inside or outside ofthe household.

In the IPTV system 100, IPTV channels are first broadcast in an Internetprotocol (IP) data format from a server at a super hub office (SHO) 101to a regional or local IPTV video hub office (VHO) server 103, to anintermediate office (TO) server 107 and to a central office (CO) 103.The IPTV system 100 includes a hierarchically arranged network ofservers wherein a particular embodiment the SHO transmits video andadvertising data to a video hub office (VHO) 103 and the VHO transmitsto an end server location close to a subscriber, such as a CO server 103or IO 107. In another particular embodiment, each of the SHO, VHO, COand IO are interconnected with an IPTV transport 139. The IPTV transport139 may consist of high speed fiber optic cables interconnected withrouters for transmission of Internet protocol data. The IPTV serversalso provide data communication for Internet, applications and voiceover Internet protocol (VoIP) services to subscribers.

Actively viewed IPTV channels are sent in an Internet protocol (IP) datamulticast group to access nodes such as digital subscriber line accessmultiplexer (DSLAM) 109. A multicast for a particular IPTV channel isjoined by the set-top boxes (STBs) at IPTV subscriber homes from theDSLAM. Each SHO, VHO, CO, IO and STB includes a server 115, processor123, a memory 127, network interface 188 and a database 125. Analysis ofthe video data for advertising data key insertion is performed byprocessor 123 at the VHO. The network interface functions to send andreceive data over the IPTV transport. The CO server delivers IPTV,Internet, telephonic data and VoIP content to the subscriber end userdevices via the IO and DSLAM. The television content is delivered viamulticast and television advertising data via unicast or multicastdepending on a target television advertising group of end user clientsubscriber devices.

In another particular embodiment, subscriber devices, also referred toherein as end user devices, are different stationary and mobile end userdevices, including but not limited to, wire line phones 135, portablephones 133, lap top computers 118, personal computers (PC) 110 and STBs102, 119 communicate with the communication system, i.e., IPTV systemthrough residential gateway (RG) 164 and high speed communication linessuch as IPTV transport 139.

In another particular embodiment, DPI devices 166 inspect data VoIP,Internet data and IPTV video, commands and Meta data (multicast andunicast) between the subscriber devices and the IPTV system severs. Whenauthorized by end users, but only when authorized by end users, DPIdevices are used in analysis of data sent and received by end userdevices including but not limited to video, text messaging, Internetcommunications and telephonic ommunications provided by the IPTV systemand stored in the data base 125. In a particular embodiment the videodata stream is analyzed for imagery, text and audio instances of aparticular object selected in the video data stream, such as an actress,e.g. Jessica Alba, adding Meta data descriptions as images of JessicaAlba are detected are detected by image recognition devices 121associated with the DPI devices. Image, text and sound recognitionfunctions are used to analyze video data for insertion of Meta datadescribing the video, in association with the DPI devices. Textual andaural key words and imagery found in the video data stream are inspectedby the DPI devices 166 and image recognition functions 121 in theprocessors 123 in the communication system servers and are used as keywords for storing in subscriber activity data for each end user. Thekeywords in the subscriber activity data are used to determine enduser's affinity for a particular product or service, based on historicalactivity for purchases of services and merchandise.

In another particular embodiment, the end client user devices orsubscriber devices include but are not limited to a client usercomputer, a personal computer (PC) 110, a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB)102, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone 134, amobile device 134, a palmtop computer 134, a laptop computer 110, adesktop computer, a communications device, a wireless telephone, aland-line telephone, a control system, a camera, a scanner, a facsimilemachine, a printer, a pager, a personal trusted device, a web appliance,a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executinga set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions tobe taken by that machine. In another particular embodiment, a deeppacket inspection (DPI) device 124 inspects multicast and unicast datastream, including but not limited to VoIP data, Internet data and IPTVvideo, commands and Meta data between the subscriber devices and betweensubscriber devices and the IPTV system severs.

In another illustrative embodiment data are monitored and collectedwhether or not the subscriber devices are in the household 113 or thedevices are mobile devices 134 outside of the household. When outside ofthe household, subscriber mobile device data is monitored bycommunication system (e.g. IPTV) servers which associate an end userprofile in the subscriber activity data for each particular end user'sdevice. In another particular embodiment, end user profile dataincluding subscriber activity data such as communication transactionsare inspected by DPI devices located in a communication system, e.g.,IPTV system servers. These communication system servers route thesubscriber profile data to a VHO in which the profile data for asubscriber are stored for processing in determining product or serviceaffinity, that is, products that are likely to be of interest to aparticular end user. If a user has an affinity for a particular luxuryautomobile then instances of imagery, text or audio data occurring inthe video data stream can be described in the Meta data accompanying thevideo data stream for presentation to a particular user having aninterest in the particular luxury automobile. The same or similar Metadata can be targeted to other subscriber's in a demographic sectorhaving sufficient income to purchase the particular luxury automobile.

As shown in FIG. 1 advertising sub groups 112 (comprising a group ofsubscriber house holds 113) can receive ITPV data in a from IO server107 via CO 103 and DSLAM 109 at STB 102. Individual households 113receive the IPTV data including the reward token pieces data at set topbox 102 or one of the other mobile or stationary end user devices. Morethan one STB (see STB1 102 and STB2 119) can be located in an individualhousehold 113 and each individual STB can receive a separate multicastor unicast advertising stream on IPTV transport 139 through DSLAM 109.In another particular illustrative embodiment separate and unique rewardtoken pieces data are presented at each set top box (STB) 102, 119tailored to target the particular subscriber watching television at thatparticular STB. Each STB 102,119 has an associated remote control (RC)116 and video display 117. The subscriber via the RC selects channelsfor a video data viewing selection (video programs, games, movies, videoon demand) and places orders for products and services over the IPTVsystem 100. Reward token pieces data are generated and inserted at theVHO and sent to client devices in the IPTV content data for end userdevices and end user applications. In another embodiment the rewardtoken pieces data are sent to end user devices or end user applicationapart from the content data. In another embodiment, Meta data aregenerated at the end user devices by processors at the end user devices.Meta data at the end user devices can then be selected for display bythe end user devices based on processing of the Meta data describedherein.

FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative communication system, including but notlimited to an IPTV system in which reward token pieces data can beinserted at an IPTV (SHO, VHO, CO) server or at the end user clientsubscriber device, for example, an STB, mobile phone, web browser orpersonal computer. Reward token pieces data can be inserted for selectedobjects appearing in video data, into an IPTV video stream via Meta datainsertion device 129 at the IPTV VHO server 105 or at one of the STBs102, 109. The IPTV servers include reward manager system 200. In anotherembodiment the reward manager system is separate from and external tothe IPTV system 100. An SHO 101 distributes data to a regional VHO 103which distributes the IPTV data and reward token pieces data to localCOs 105 which distribute data via IO 107 to a digital subscriber accessline aggregator multiplexer (DSLAM) access node to subscriber devicessuch as STBs 102, 119, PC 110 wire line phone 135, mobile phone 133 etc.Objects appearing in the video data stream are also selected for Metadata description based on the community profile for users in thecommunity and sent to a mobile phone or computer associated with thesubscriber or end user devices in the community. The communitysubscriber profile is built based on a community of subscribers' IPTV,Internet and VoIP activity.

Turning now to FIG. 2 , an example of a particular illustrativeembodiment 200 is depicted. As shown in FIG. 2 , end user devices 204and 208 communicate with an IPTV system which provides IPTV,telecommunications and Internet services to the end user devices. Eachserver in embodiment 200, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 further includesbut is not limited to a memory embedded in a tangible computer readablemedium, a processor in data communication with the memory, and adatabase embedded in the tangible computer readable medium. An end useractivity server 230 monitors end user device 204 and 208 activity todetermine what end user device types for end user devices 204 and 208.The end user activity server 230 monitors what type of end user devicesare used and stores the end user device types in the end user devicetype data base 214 associated with an end user identifier for an enduser associated with the end user device type. The end user activityserver 230 also monitors what type of end user applications are used andstores them in the application type data base 216. End user device typeutilization and end user application utilization are monitored for endusers and stored in the subscriber activity data base 210 in ahistorical utilization data structure embedded in a tangible computerreadable medium.

Based on the historical utilization of particular end user device typesand particular end user applications, providers such as advertisers andcommunication companies can target end user data delivery vehicles suchas end user device types and end user applications to receive rewardtoken pieces as incentives to read advertisements, utilize particularend user device types and utilize particular end user applications.

A reward token data base 212 stores data representing rewards which areredeemable by end users for value. Reward tokens represent a particularreward value which is divided into N reward token pieces, each N rewardtoken piece having an assigned value, representing a fraction of thetotal reward value assigned to the reward token which was divided intothe N reward token pieces. Reward token pieces sent to a favorite enduser device type or sent to a favorite end user application mayrepresent less value reward token pieces than the reward value forreward token pieces sent to a second end user device type or end userapplication. Thus, an end user is provided with an incentive to utilizethe second end user device type or end user application to receive thehigher value reward token pieces. That is, more value can be assigned toreward token piece sent to lesser used application and device types toprovide an incentive to increase use of the lesser used application anddevice type.

Data delivery vehicle servers 234, 236 and 238 including but not limitedto end user device servers and application servers send reward tokenpieces to reward server 218. The data delivery vehicle servers identifyreward token pieces, end user devices, end users and end userapplications and sends them to the reward server. The reward servercommunicates with the IPTV system 100 which sends the reward tokenpieces to the end user data delivery vehicles, which in a particularembodiment are end user device types and end user applications orapplication types. In another embodiment the end user data deliveryvehicle may be a particular communication network or another electricalcommunication means through which an end user communicates.

Application servers, including but not limited to those shown in FIG. 2, Instant messaging server 220, video server 222, cellular telephoneserver 224, text messaging server 226 and games server 228 monitor enduser application utilization which is stored in the subscriber activitydata base 210. An end user activity data server 230 communicates withthe IPTV system and senses when particular end users are utilizingparticular type end user devices, what they are doing on the end userdevices and what applications the end users are running. This data isstored along with the end users profile in the end user activity datafield 201.

Turning now to FIG. 3 , in an illustrative embodiment, the subscriberactivity data base 300 is embedded in a computer readable memory andcontains data used by the system, method and computer program productiondisclosed herein. The subscriber activity database 300 includes but isnot limited to an end user activity data field 301 for containing dataindicating end user activity data for a particular end user. Thesubscriber activity database 300 includes but is not limited to ahistorical utilization end user device type field 302 for containingdata indicating historical usage of particular device types for aparticular end user. The subscriber activity database 300 furtherincludes but is not limited to a historical utilization end userapplication field 304 for containing data indication historical usage ofparticular applications for a particular end user. The subscriberactivity database 300 further includes but is not limited to an end userapplication field 306 for containing data indication historical usage ofparticular end applications for a particular end user. The subscriberactivity database 300 further includes but is not limited to an end userdevice type field 308 for containing data indicating historical usage ofparticular end user device types for a particular end user. Thesubscriber activity database 300 further includes but is not limited toa reward token pieces data field 310 for storing data indicating an enduser's accumulation of the N reward token pieces.

Turning now to FIG. 4 , in a particular illustrative embodiment, thecomputer program product, method and system perform functions as shownin FIG. 4 . No order of function execution is dictated or implied byFIG. 4 , as in other embodiments, the order of function execution maydiffer and additional functions or different function may be executed.As shown in FIG. 4 , in block 402, in a particular illustrativeembodiment divides a reward token in a reward token data base into aquantity, N of reward token pieces based on a selection of N end userdata delivery vehicles on which an advertiser wants to send reward tokenpieces to an end user; senses end user activity on a communicationnetwork (CN) on at least one of the N end user data delivery vehicles atone of a plurality of data delivery vehicle servers; sends to CN from afirst data delivery vehicle server, a first one of the N reward tokenpieces to the end user on a first one of the N end user data deliveryvehicles; and sends to CN from a second data delivery vehicle server, asecond one of the N reward token pieces to the end user on a second oneof the N end user data delivery vehicles.

Proceeding to block 404, a particular illustrative embodiment, where thedata delivery vehicle server is an end user application server and thefirst one of the plurality of end user data delivery vehicles is an enduser device application, detects the end user application at the enduser device application (data delivery vehicle) server, wherein thedevice application is selected from the group consisting of instantmessaging, video, cellular telephone, text messaging and games.Proceeding to block 406, in a particular illustrative embodiment, wherethe first one of the N end user data delivery vehicles further includesbut is not limited to a favorite end user device type, detect thefavorite end user device type at an end user device server. Advertiserselects data delivery vehicles indicating end users, end user devicetypes and end user applications associated with the selected end userdata delivery vehicles to receive the reward token pieces. Reward theend user for accumulation of each of the N reward token pieces on an enduser data delivery vehicle, where the reward value is inverselyproportional to an end user's historical utilization of the end userdata delivery vehicle.

Proceeding to block 408, a particular illustrative embodiment, selectsthe second end user data delivery vehicle based on increasing an enduser's historical utilization of the second end user data deliveryvehicle; send data indicating on the first data delivery vehicle thatthe second reward token piece is available on the second end user datadelivery vehicle. Monitor end user data delivery vehicle activity forthe end user; rank the end user's data delivery vehicle activity byhistorical utilization of at least one of the group consisting ofhistorical utilization of each of the plurality of end user devicetypes, historical utilization of each of the plurality of end userapplications and historical utilization of each end user application oneach of the plurality of end user device types.

Turning now to FIG. 5 , FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic representation of amachine in the form of a computer system 500 within which a set ofinstructions, when executed, may cause the machine, also referred to asa computer, to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussedherein. In some embodiments, the machine operates as a standalonedevice. In some embodiments, the machine may be connected (e.g., using anetwork) to other machines. In a networked deployment, the machine mayoperate in the capacity of a server or a client user machine inserver-client user network environment, or as a peer machine in apeer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The machine maycomprise a server computer, a client user computer, a personal computer(PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a Personal Digital Assistant(PDA), a cellular telephone, a mobile device, a palmtop computer, alaptop computer, a desktop computer, a personal digital assistant, acommunications device, a wireless telephone, a land-line telephone, acontrol system, a camera, a scanner, a facsimile machine, a printer, apager, a personal trusted device, a web appliance, a network router,switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing a set ofinstructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be takenby that machine. It will be understood that a device of the illustrativeincludes broadly any electronic device that provides voice, video ordata communication. Further, while a single machine is illustrated, theterms “machine” and “computer” shall also be taken to include anycollection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (ormultiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of themethodologies discussed herein.

The computer system 500 may include a processor 502 (e.g., a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or both), amain memory 504 and a static memory 506, which communicate with eachother via a bus 508. The computer system 500 may further include a videodisplay unit 510 (e.g., liquid crystals display (LCD), a flat panel, asolid state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system500 may include an input device 512 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor controldevice 514 (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit 516, a signal generationdevice 518 (e.g., a speaker or remote control) and a network interfacedevice 520.

The disk drive unit 516 may include a tangible computer-readable medium522 on which is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software524) embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functionsdescribed herein, including those methods illustrated in herein above.The instructions 524 may also reside, completely or at least partially,within the main memory 504, the static memory 506, and/or within theprocessor 502 during execution thereof by the computer system 500. Themain memory 504 and the processor 502 also may constitutecomputer-readable media. Dedicated hardware implementations including,but not limited to, application specific integrated circuits,programmable logic arrays and other hardware devices can likewise beconstructed to implement the methods described herein. Applications thatmay include the apparatus and systems of various embodiments broadlyinclude a variety of electronic and computer systems. Some embodimentsimplement functions in two or more specific interconnected hardwaremodules or devices with related control and data signals communicatedbetween and through the modules, or as portions of anapplication-specific integrated circuit. Thus, the example system isapplicable to software, firmware, and hardware implementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the illustrative embodiment,the methods described herein are intended for operation as softwareprograms running on a computer processor. Furthermore, softwareimplementations can include, but not limited to, distributed processingor component/object distributed processing, parallel processing, orvirtual machine processing can also be constructed to implement themethods described herein.

The illustrative embodiment contemplates a computer-readable andcomputer-readable medium containing instructions 524, or that whichreceives and executes instructions 524 from a propagated signal so thata device connected to a network environment 526 can send or receivevoice, video or data, and to communicate over the network 526 using theinstructions 524. The instructions 524 may further be transmitted orreceived over a network 526 via the network interface device 520.

While the computer-readable medium 522 is shown in an example embodimentto be a single medium, the terms “computer-readable medium” and“computer-readable medium” should be taken to include a single medium ormultiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/orassociated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets ofinstructions. The term “computer-readable medium” shall also be taken toinclude any medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying aset of instructions for execution by the machine and that cause themachine to perform any one or more of the methodologies of theillustrative embodiment. The term “computer-readable medium” shallaccordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to: solid-statememories such as a memory card or other package that houses one or moreread-only (non-volatile) memories, random access memories, or otherre-writable (volatile) memories; magneto-optical or optical medium suchas a disk or tape; and/or a digital file attachment to e-mail or otherself-contained information archive or set of archives is considered adistribution medium equivalent to a tangible storage medium.Accordingly, the illustrative embodiment is considered to include anyone or more of a computer-readable medium or a distribution medium, aslisted herein and including art-recognized equivalents and successormedia, in which the software implementations herein are stored.

Although the present specification describes components and functionsimplemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standardsand protocols, the illustrative embodiment is not limited to suchstandards and protocols. Each of the standards for Internet and otherpacket switched network transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, andHTTP) represent examples of the state of the art. Such standards areperiodically superseded by faster or more efficient equivalents havingessentially the same functions. Accordingly, replacement standards andprotocols having the same functions are considered equivalents.

The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments,and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all theelements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use ofthe structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparentto those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Otherembodiments may be utilized and derived there from, such that structuraland logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing fromthe scope of this disclosure. Figures are merely representational andmay not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may beexaggerated, while others may be minimized. Accordingly, thespecification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative ratherthan a restrictive sense.

Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred toherein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “illustrativeembodiment” merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarilylimit the scope of this application to any single invention or inventiveconcept if more than one is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specificembodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should beappreciated that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purposemay be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosureis intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of variousembodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and otherembodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to thoseof skill in the art upon reviewing the above description.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to quicklyascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted withthe understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit thescope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing DetailedDescription, it can be seen that various features are grouped togetherin a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure.This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting anintention that the claimed embodiments require more features than areexpressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claimsreflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of asingle disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are herebyincorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing onits own as a separate embodiment.

Although the illustrative embodiment has been described with referenceto several illustrative embodiments, it is understood that the wordsthat have been used are words of description and illustration, ratherthan words of limitation. Changes may be made within the purview of theappended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departingfrom the scope and spirit of the illustrative embodiment in its aspects.Although the illustrative embodiment has been described with referenceto particular means, materials and embodiments, the invention is notintended to be limited to the particulars disclosed; rather, theinvention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods,and uses such as are within the scope of the appended claims.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present illustrativeembodiment, the methods described herein are intended for operation assoftware programs running on a computer processor. Dedicated hardwareimplementations including, but not limited to, application specificintegrated circuits, programmable logic arrays and other hardwaredevices can likewise be constructed to implement the methods describedherein. Furthermore, alternative software implementations including, butnot limited to, distributed processing or component/object distributedprocessing, parallel processing, or virtual machine processing can alsobe constructed to implement the methods described herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: assigning, by a processingsystem comprising a processor, reward values to each device of aplurality of devices of a user according to an advertising objective;delivering, by the processing system, a respective instance of mediacontent data with a respective amount of sub-tokens of a plurality ofsub-tokens to a respective device of the plurality of devices;providing, by the processing system, an indication of the plurality ofsub-tokens, wherein the indication includes a reference to a preferredactivity of the user based on the advertising objective; and storing, bythe processing system, accumulated sub-tokens in a reward token database, wherein the accumulated sub-tokens are accumulated based on aperformance of the preferred activity performed by each device of theplurality of devices according to the reward values of each device ofthe plurality of devices.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the storingthe accumulated sub-tokens includes the plurality of devices beingmonitored to determine which conduct an activity consistent with thepreferred activity to activate the respective amount of the sub-tokensfor the respective device of the plurality of devices as activatedsub-tokens.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the storing theaccumulated sub-tokens includes the activated sub-tokens beingtransferred to an account associated with the user.
 4. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising determining a most used end user device ofthe plurality of devices.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein theadvertising objective includes information indicating to target otherdevices of the plurality of devices other than the most used end userdevice for the user.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the reward valuesare inversely proportional to a historical utilization of the respectivedevice of the plurality of devices based on historical utilization datafor the user.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, bythe processing system, device data from each respective device of theplurality of devices to provide the reward values, wherein eachrespective device of the plurality of devices presents informationassociated with the respective instance of the instances of the mediacontent data and the respective amount of the sub-tokens assigned to therespective device of the plurality of devices.
 8. The method of claim 7,further comprising: determining a least used device of the plurality ofdevices based on historical utilization; and sending, to a most used enduser device, an instruction to present information on the most used enduser device that a particular portion of sub-tokens is available on theleast used device.
 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising rankingeach of the plurality of devices based on a first historical utilizationof each of the plurality of devices and based on a second historicalutilization of an end user application provided on each of the pluralityof devices.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the ranking furthercomprises weighting the first historical utilization of each of theplurality of devices and the second historical utilization of the enduser application based on a target profile of the advertising objective.11. An apparatus, comprising: a processing system including a processor;and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed bythe processing system, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:assigning reward values to each device of a plurality of devices of auser according to an advertising objective, wherein the advertisingobjective informs the apparatus to target other devices of the pluralityof devices other than a most used end user device for the user;delivering a respective instance of media content data with a respectiveamount of sub-tokens of a plurality of sub-tokens to a respective deviceof the plurality of devices; providing an indication of the plurality ofsub-tokens, wherein the indication includes a reference to a preferredactivity of the user based on the advertising objective; and storingaccumulated sub-tokens in a reward token data base, wherein theaccumulated sub-tokens are accumulated based on a performance of thepreferred activity performed by each of device of the plurality ofdevices according to the reward values of each of the plurality ofdevices.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the storing theaccumulated sub-tokens includes the plurality of devices being monitoredto determine which conduct an activity consistent with the preferredactivity to activate the respective amount of the sub-tokens for therespective device of the plurality of devices as activated sub-tokens.13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the storing the accumulatedsub-tokens includes the activated sub-tokens being transferred to anaccount associated with the user.
 14. The apparatus of claim 11, whereinthe operations further comprise transmitting data to indicate the rewardvalues to the user for accumulation of sub-tokens.
 15. The apparatus ofclaim 11, wherein the reward values are inversely proportional to ahistorical utilization of the respective device of the plurality ofdevices based on historical utilization data for the user.
 16. Theapparatus of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise receivinga request for a reward in exchange for an amount of sub-tokens in thereward token data base.
 17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein theoperations further comprise ranking each of the plurality of devicesbased on a first historical utilization of each of the plurality ofdevices and based on a second historical utilization of an end userapplication provided on each of the plurality of devices.
 18. Theapparatus of claim 17, wherein the ranking further comprises weightingthe first historical utilization of each of the plurality of devices andthe second historical utilization of the end user application based on atarget profile of the advertising objective.
 19. A non-transitorymachine-readable storage medium, comprising executable instructionsthat, when executed by a processing system including a processor,facilitate performance of operations, comprising: assigning rewardvalues to each device of a plurality of devices of a user according toan advertising objective; delivering a respective instance of mediacontent data with a respective amount of sub-tokens of a plurality ofsub-tokens to a respective device of the plurality of devices; providingan indication of the plurality of sub-tokens, wherein the indicationincludes a reference to a preferred activity of the user based on theadvertising objective; and storing accumulated sub-tokens in a rewardtoken data base, wherein the accumulated sub-tokens are accumulatedbased on a performance of the preferred activity performed by each ofdevice of the plurality of devices according to the reward values ofeach of the plurality of devices.
 20. The non-transitorymachine-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the storing theaccumulated sub-tokens includes the plurality of devices being monitoredby a server to determine which conduct an activity consistent with thepreferred activity to activate the respective amount of the sub-tokensfor the respective device of the plurality of devices as activatedsub-tokens.